Afridi shines in Pakistan victory

[ESPN]

Shahid Afridi sparkled with bat and ball as Pakistan steam-rollered NZ for a 138-run victory in the first one-day international. Pakistan, opting to bat first, had built nicely around Afridi's quickfire 70 to reach a total of 287 for nine with opener contributing a steady, if occasionally ponderous 64 and wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal providing acceleration at the end with an unbeaten 67. New Zealand were feeble in reply, the only resistance coming from Aaron Redmond (52) and Daniel Vettori (38) as they were skittled out for 149. Afridi grabbed two wickets, including the crucial one of Vettori in his 10 overs. Younus Khan's decision to bat first had backfired as paceman Shane Bond nicely exploited the bounce and movement the surface had offered to snaffle opener Salman Butt and Pakistan captain Younus for ducks. Pakistan were two down without a run on the board and New Zealand's bowlers had shackled the opposition with a stifling line, but Mohammad Yousuf (30) and Latif settled nerves with a 57-run stand for the third wicket. Yousuf was just beginning to assert himself - he had clubbed Jacob Oram for consecutive boundaries - when he attempted a single and was caught short of his crease by an accurate throw from Martin Guptill at cover. His dismissal left Pakistan tottering at 75 for four in 23.3 overs, but the balance tilted with Afridi's typically breezy innings. He smacked Vettori for a six and struck two off a Nathan McCullum over as he sped to his 30th ODI half-century off just 36 deliveries, in the process putting on 101 for the fifth wicket with Latif, the latter reaching his maiden half-century. Afridi was then snared by Oram and Latif was bowled by Vettori, but Akmal and Abdul Razzaq (26) clobbered the bowlers around at the death to propel Pakistan beyond the 250-mark. Akmal reached his half-century off 35 deliveries and put on 86 off 43 deliveries for the seventh wicket with Razzaq as Pakistan finished at a canter. Umar Gul had derailed New Zealand's chase, claiming the coveted wickets of Brendon McCullum and his replacement Martin Guptill in successive overs. Young paceman Mohammad Aamer then sent back danger man Ross Taylor and Scott Styris also went cheaply as the Black Caps crashed to 50 for four in little more than 15 overs. Redmond, with Vettori for company, had revived the chase with a partnership of 69 for the fifth wicket, the opener reaching his maiden half-century along the way. But his dismissal - lbw to off-spinner Saeed Ajmal - triggered another collapse as the Black Caps were bundled out with more than 10 overs to spare.

[champ]

well played shahid :hatsoff:

[Indianfan_Hyd]

Afretard for Captain in all forms... or go to hell

[Jersey #10]

Make the guy captain already :wall: stupid PCB...Afridi is a rockstar